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Thank you for compiling the Memorial list. Last year's event was very moving for me and greatly appreciated. As long as we keep these people in our hearts they are never truly gone from us and by giving voice to their names, we ensure that the world hasn't, and never will, forget them either.

"...health will finally be seen not as a blessing to be wished for, but as a human right to be fought for." Kofi Annan

Nymphomaniac: a woman as obsessed with sex as an average man. Mignon McLaughlin

HIV is certainly character-building. It's made me see all of the shallow things we cling to, like ego and vanity. Of course, I'd rather have a few more T-cells and a little less character. Randy Shilts

Sadly, I just received an email to let me know that "Big Al", an hiv activist (and volunteer) in Liverpool died July 3rd (Tuesday). With regret, I'd like to add his name.

Big Al

He will be greatly missed in the Mersyside area and he would be honoured to know he was being remembered half-way around the world, in DC no less. Thanks, guys, for giving me the venue to make this tribute to a wonderful man. Even if I won't be there physically - I will be at the memorial in spirit. You betcha.

"...health will finally be seen not as a blessing to be wished for, but as a human right to be fought for." Kofi Annan

Nymphomaniac: a woman as obsessed with sex as an average man. Mignon McLaughlin

HIV is certainly character-building. It's made me see all of the shallow things we cling to, like ego and vanity. Of course, I'd rather have a few more T-cells and a little less character. Randy Shilts

Just to let you know that I'm keeping a list at home and will not be puting one up in the forum, I will print all the name's out from home before I leave....trust me every name put up here will be on the list, no-one will be forgotten.

Thanks Jan. Not sure if I'm adding names this year. It tore at my heart last year to have their names read out loud. Not sure if I can deal with that again. Hearing names of people who died that I didn't even know was tough enough.

Tony LambertRicky -- I am completely blanking on his last name and it is absolutely killing me. Our greatest fear around being forgotten after we have gone and I feel like I am doing that to him. I almost left him off here, but that would be even first -- I'll know who he is when his name is read.

I decided to add the names of the 2 people I loved most. The love of my life and bestest childhood friend. I'll privately mourn the others, but thanks for adding these people whom I miss and grieve over regularly.

There's also my dear friend Rick whom I had the pleasure of visiting one last night in Houston...he never told any of us his status and never looked ill but was already diagnosed with a malignancy by that last time I partied with him...and for the life of me I can't recall his last name or find my old adress books. So many friends are listed in those old books; some have survived and some didn't. I carry a lot of survivors' guilt because they left us so long ago, and here I am not even on meds yet...seems like a cruel treatment to their memory that I am still here chugging along, and even crueler that I am not able to recall Rick's last name. And he had a cool name, and was such a sweet man.

I must call our mutual friend in Miami tomorrow to get his surname. And to let her know that we're going to DC instead of Miami for our vacation.

And now I've remembered! See, I just needed to talk it out. And start to cry a little. So here is my list again: